Two more nations this week announced their decision to come down hard on commercial sales of elephant ivory, further strengthening the global campaign to save these gentle giants from poachers and wildlife traffickers.

On Tuesday, the United Kingdom said it will introduce what Prime Minister Teresa May described as “one of the toughest bans on ivory sales in the world.” On the same day, on the other side of the world, the government of Taiwan announced its intention to ban all commercial sales of ivory products, starting 2020.

Britain’s announcement follows a swell of public opinion against elephant ivory — when the U.K. government solicited public input last December, 88 percent of respondents supported a ban on ivory sales. HSI sent a detailed submission to the government on behalf of 19,623 of our supporters who agreed that only the strictest regulation would be acceptable. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, a vocal proponent of the ivory ban, applauded the public support, stating that it is “vitally important that we reverse the tragic decline in elephant populations.”

The U.K. still needs to codify this proposal into law, and we hope it will do so as soon as possible, to ensure that unscrupulous dealers do not have an opportunity to dump their illegal or questionable stockpiles onto the marketplace before the ban takes effect. But the U.K. announcement is also crucial because it ramps up pressure on the European Commission, which is the world’s largest exporter of legal ivory.

The EU has been examining restrictions on the import, export, and sale of elephant ivory in its member countries, and we hope that it too will act immediately to reduce its prominent role in the global trade in ivory. The majority of EU ivory exports are destined for China and Hong Kong, whose ivory markets have been fueled by illegal imports for decades. For their part, China and Hong Kong have already taken steps to address the threat to elephants posed by the trade, with China prohibiting all domestic sales of elephant ivory starting January 1 this year, while Hong Kong will prohibit commercial ivory sales by 2021.

It is now up to the EU to ban the ivory trade and make sure it does not fall behind in the global war on ivory. Because legally acquired ivory is very difficult to distinguish from illegal ivory, continued trade in ivory in the EU perpetuates demand for ivory and undermines efforts to combat wildlife crime.

Taiwan’s announcement, we hope, will similarly add pressure on Japan, which has more ivory manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers than any other country, and which trades tens of millions of dollars worth of ivory annually. Taiwan is seeking comment on its proposed ban, and HSI will soon submit a response in support of such a ban.

Our teams at HSI and The HSUS have been at the forefront of the work to end the ivory trade. Here in the United States, federal law prohibits most import, export, and interstate sales of elephant ivory, and seven states have recently passed additional safeguards and prohibit the sale of elephant ivory and rhino horns. Similar legislative campaigns are underway in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania. North of the border, HSI/Canada is keeping up the pressure to address that country’s ivory market.

In Asia, HSI last month launched a “No Ivory” campaign video featuring Yoh Daikan, an outfielder with the Yomiuri Giants, a legendary baseball team in Japan. Yoh was born and raised in Taiwan, and with assistance from Taiwan SPCA, he recorded public awareness videos for both Japanese and Taiwanese audiences, becoming the first celebrity in Japan to speak out for elephants. The Yomiuri Giants shared the press conference on multiple social media platforms, making it possible for Yoh’s message to reach the Japanese public on this important topic.

Protecting elephants is an issue that resonates with animal lovers around the world. They are sentient beings with emotions and social behaviors evocative of humans, and they are synonymous of Africa’s natural wonders and heritage. The announcements from Taiwan and the United Kingdom give us heart at a time when elephants face critical threats to their very survival and need all the help they can get.

82 Comments

Well it’s a start, but why do we have to wait 2 or 3 years for a ban to come into effect? Meanwhile more elephants will be exterminated and the ivory traders get richer. The message to the world is do not buy any ivory products whatsoever starting right now.

This is great news – it’s a start and not by any means can the elephants still be listed as being safe. But this great news I am so happy for the elephants and grateful to all you people that work hard for making this happen at the Humane Society International and all the other groups involved – I say to you Great work and keep it up . I am just on the sidelines donating when I can and sending across email and such to get more people aware of things that are happening that they don’t even realize whats going on – Thanks again – Sherry Bell

I’m glad for this incredible Sunday for elephants! For a monumental victory, the governments of Great Britain and Taiwan, which announced the ban on the sale of ivory. I welcome this vital move to protect the elephants and stop the search and demand for consumers for ivory.
Peter

I thought there was already a UK ban on ivory sales. Well, ivory gathered after a certain date, anyway. You do not say anything about this. I assume that this will ban the sale of previously allowed old ivory?

The ban on ivory is long overdue..the delay however is far too long and gives the opportunity for continued exploitation,killing and distribution of ivory before the deadline. why do governments drag their heels on this ?To save the elephant from further poaching and subsequent extinction the ban in ivory should be swift,with barely any warning at all!!!

Just to say this is fantastic news. Well done to all who love the elephants and all the animals!!! And great that governments are now at last taking note and have people of like minds about these major issues.

If legal ivory is indistinguishable from the illegal, than the only thing that can be done, is to make the legal ivory trade illegal, as well as the illegal trade. It is all well and good that many countries have the intention to ban the trade of ivory in the not far future, but I’m asking why not now? How many more Elephants have to die, before all these ‘good intentions’ are made unlawful? I have absolutely zero tolerance for any excuse politicians give, why the immediate trade of any ivory, should not only be made illegal, but to be very harshly punished. Personally I would introduce the death sentence for poachers, and very long prison sentences for anybody involved in the trade of ivory.

if humans dont start to protect animals that is one of our jobs from god to be guardians over those who are defenseless to human greed and abuses we will not have these great majestic beings roaming our planet. great news from Taiwan and United Kingdom now the United States needs to follow and get behind the protecting of all animals!!!!!!!

This is very encouraging news which the EU must take note of and act upon immediately. Congratulations to China and Taiwan and Great Britain for banning the ivory trade and thank you. I look forward to the day when all elephants can live without the threat of being killed for their tusks because there is a worldwide ban.

Please do whatever is possible to save these magnificent creatures. Stopping illegal poaching of elephants ivory is essential in their survival. Please help save these elephants . Thank you, Kathy nailor

Made very well for the survival of these grand animals which deserve that they are protected shameless men who do not think that has they, their properties and personal fortune by destroying any lives on their passage … .Pour that I say … .. BRAVO ..

This ban of ivory in the U.K. and Taiwan is really wonderful and I am very happy this has been achieved! Now let all the other countries and the rest of the world ban the sale and trade of ivory. Make it certain that every elephant on this planet is living it’s life in good health, happy and in peace.

We need to work towards a total ban on ivory (new and old) sales in every country throughout the world. The EU really needs to act now, so please keep up the pressure on the EU. We need to make the ownership of ivory a societal taboo so that future generations will not even consider owning ivory.

Whilst I’m pleased to hear of this partial victory, why won’t Taiwan & Hong Kong ban the trade in Ivory IMMEDIATELY rather than 2020 & 2021 respectively. Surely this will only serve to INCREASE the rate of slaughter of these beautiful sentient creatures by the scum that carry out these atrocities to beat the deadline if at all it ever comes into being
Sadly I think this is no more than these two governments paying lip service to conservation as they have a lamentable record in this regard and of course not averse to corruption which is endemic in that part of the world. I’ll start rejoicing when I start to read headlines that state Africa & Asia face a crisis from herds of elephants so large that they stretch from one horizon to another and that the human population is in retreat.
So on reflection, I don’t necessarily share your enthusiasm that the world of elephant conservation has turned the corner: I am of course happy to be proven wrong….but I ain’t holding my breath!!

I feel it is high time tougher action is taken to totally ban the killings of elephants for their ivory and to erradicate the sale of all ivory pre and post ban.The world has moved forward and are educated to now understand the danger of continuing this and therefore the rest must follow in this quest!

Decision makers listened to the voices of caring animal advocates who spoke out against this awful trade. These two victories send a message to the world that animal cruelty should not be for sale and prove that our voices are strong when we work to protect animals together.

On behalf of elephants all over the world, thank you for caring about animals.

lets hope we can stop it all over the world lets wild animals live in peace stop killing these its not right PLEASES STOP KILLING wild life and stop all cruelty to all animals and children too best start in the USA an UK.All over the world

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